Detecting traffic

ABSTRACT

Devices and methods for detecting traffic objects. Radiated energy is captured at a detection device, wherein the radiated energy is radiated from traffic objects. Data associated with the radiated energy is generated. The data associated with the radiated energy is transmitted using a communication device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and is a continuation to the patentapplication, Ser. No. 12/960,846, entitled “DETECTING TRAFFIC,” withfiling date Dec. 6, 2010, and assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to detectingtraffic.

BACKGROUND

Modern technology provides for a variety of traffic detecting devicesand methods. Many such devices are expensive to manufacture and install.Additionally the devices may require power lines to be run to the deviceand/or a dedicated communication line. Some devices also require aportion of a roadway to be removed for the installation of the device.Removing a portion of a roadway causes traffic delays and damage to theroadway that is not easily repaired. Thus these traffic detectiondevices are costly and require a certain amount of infrastructure inplace to operate the devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a traffic detector in an exampletraffic environment in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a traffic detector in an exampletraffic environment in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for detectingtraffic in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for detectingtraffic in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

The drawings referred to in this description of embodiments should beunderstood as not being drawn to scale except if specifically noted.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presenttechnology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the technology will be described in conjunction withvarious embodiment(s), it will be understood that they are not intendedto limit the present technology to these embodiments. On the contrary,the present technology is intended to cover alternatives, modificationsand equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope ofthe various embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

Furthermore, in the following description of embodiments, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present technology. However, the present technologymay be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not beendescribed in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of thepresent embodiments.

Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present descriptionof embodiments, discussions utilizing terms such as “capturing,”“generating,” “transmitting,” “detecting,” or the like, refer to theactions and processes of a computer system, or similar electroniccomputing device. The computer system or similar electronic computingdevice manipulates and transforms data represented as physical(electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers andmemories into other data similarly represented as physical quantitieswithin the computer system memories or registers or other suchinformation storage, transmission, or display devices.

Overview of Detecting Traffic

Various devices used for traffic detecting are costly to implement andmaintain and may have limited functions. For example, a video camera fordetecting traffic on a roadway may require a hard wired power source, adedicated high speed network connection and a pole or similar mountingstructure implemented solely for the use of the video camera. Costsassociated with implementing the video camera include the cost to runpower lines and communication lines to the video camera, the cost of thevideo camera and mounting structure, installation costs, as well asmonthly costs for the power consumption and communication line data.Other drawbacks of using video cameras for traffic detecting are limitedtechnology for automatically counting the number of vehicles on aroadway and measuring the speed of the vehicles as well as having tostore large amounts of video records.

Another example of a traffic detecting device is an electro-magneticdevice installed under a roadway. Such devices also require hardwiredpower and a dedicated communication line. Such devices also require aroadway to be temporarily closed and a portion of a roadway to beremoved and then replaced in which case the road may become uneven orthe resulting seams and cracks in the roadway may cause the roadway todeteriorate faster. Such a device also is unable to distinguishdifferent types of vehicles and may be limited to detecting vehicles inonly a portion of the roadway.

Embodiments of the present technology comprise traffic detecting devicesthat are self powered, self contained, use wireless data communicationtechnology and can be mounted to an existing structure on or near aroadway. The device may be self powered by utilizing solar power. Forexample a device may be mounted to an existing light pole on or near aroadway, have an attached solar panel, and use a wireless modem toconnect to a cellular network. Such a device is low cost, selfcontained, can be installed in a matter of minutes to existinginfrastructure without the need to close a roadway during installation.

In one embodiment, a passive infrared array is used to detect radiatedinfrared energy radiated from a vehicle, or other object, traveling on aroadway. Such a device is low powered as it is only required to detectradiated energy and not transmit energy such as radar is required to do.In one embodiment, one device of the present technology is mounted to anexisting light-pole on the side of a roadway and is able to measure; thespeed of vehicles, vehicles in more than one lane of traffic, vehiclestraveling in more than one direction, count the number of vehiclestraveling on a roadway, distinguish different sizes of vehicles from oneanother, calculate a lane occupancy on a roadway, and can measure thetemperature of the surface of the roadway.

In one embodiment, the traffic device further includes an imagereceiving device such as a camera for capturing images of trafficobjects. For example, an image may be captured and transmitted uponrequest from a remote user. In another embodiment, a remote computersystem may automatically request the image receiving device to capturean image. The image is then sent to a user with an automatic trafficalert. In one embodiment, the image is not analyzed by a computer systemto detect traffic objects, but is only used for a visual inspection oftraffic conditions.

The following discussion will demonstrate various hardware, software,and firmware components that are used with and in devices and computersystems used for detecting traffic in various embodiments of the presenttechnology. Furthermore, the devices, computer systems and their methodsmay include some, all, or none of the hardware, software, and firmwarecomponents discussed below.

Embodiments of Detecting Traffic

With reference now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an example environmentcomprising a traffic detecting device shown in accordance withembodiments of the present technology. Environment 100 includes detector105, communicator 110, power source 115, image receiving device 120,mounting apparatus 125, existing structure 130, vehicle 135, person 140,surface 145, device 165 and radiated energy 150, 155 and 160.Environment 100 comprises components that may or may not be used withdifferent embodiments of the present technology and should not beconstrued to limit the present technology.

FIG. 1 depicts, in one embodiment, detector 105, communicator 110, powersource 115, and image receiving device 120 as part of device 165. Itshould be appreciated that these components may or may not be part ofthe same device. For example, device 165 may not include image receivingdevice 120.

In one embodiment, detector 105 is a passive infrared detectorconfigured to detect infrared radiation that is radiated from a trafficobject. It should be appreciated that traffic objects may be, but arenot limited to vehicles, automobiles, motorcycles, semi-trucks, humanbeings, and the surface of a roadway. In one embodiment, detector 105detects infrared radiation that is emanating from vehicle 135.

In one embodiment, detector 105 is a passive infrared detector that usesa two dimensional array to detect traffic objects. In one embodiment,detector 105 is a thermopile array. For example, the two dimensionalarray may be a 16×16 pixel passive infrared array behind a galliumarsenide lens with a field of view aimed at a roadway. The angle of thefield of view may vary, in one embodiment, the field of is 70 degrees.As traffic objects pass into the field of view they will radiateinfrared energy. The radiated infrared energy passes through the lensand the array captures the energy and generates related traffic data.This data is then sent using communicator 110 to a database or otherelectronic repository. The data may then be analyzed to makedeterminations regarding traffic patterns. The present technology shouldnot be construed to be limited to detecting and/capturing infraredradiation as other forms of radiated energy may be detected or capturedfor traffic detecting.

In one embodiment, the data is sent to a server computer system. Theserver computer system may identify a field of view of detector 105 andestablish trap zones at either end of the field of view. For example, atrap zone may be defined as a portion of a roadway that is several feetin diameter with a corresponding trap zone separated by 20-30 feet. Thetrap zones may then be sent back to detector 105 to be used ingenerating the traffic data.

In one embodiment, vehicle 135 may travel over surface 145 and pass overa portion of surface 145 that is in the field of view of detector 105.In one embodiment, the vehicle 135 passes through two trap zonesestablished in the field of view of detector 105. While vehicle 135 ispassing through the field of view of detector 105, vehicle 135 capturesradiated energy 150 which is radiated by vehicle 135. This energy isused to generate data regarding vehicle 135. Surface 145 may be, but isnot limited to, a roadway, a freeway, an interstate, a highway, a road,a street, a dirt road, or other natural or manmade terrain.

In one embodiment, the data regarding vehicle 135 is related to thespeed that vehicle 135 is traveling. For example, when vehicle 135 istraveling in a lane on a roadway and enters a trap zone in a field ofview of detector 105, it will be detected by the first passive infraredpixel in the lane. When vehicle 135 leaves the trap zone, its departurewill be detected by the last passive infrared pixel in that lane.Examining how far apart the two pixels are pointed on the roadway, andlooking at the number of frames that have elapsed, the speed of thevehicle by lane can be calculated.

In one embodiment, the hardware used for detector 105 is sensitiveenough to detect the speed of vehicles traveling at freeway speeds. Toaccomplish this, pixels in an infrared detector array will be sampled ata rate fast enough to ensure that vehicles are not missed. For example,if vehicle is traveling at 100 miles per hour (approximately 45 metersper second), then three meter motorcycle would pass through a point onthe roadway in 67 milliseconds. Therefore a passive infrared arrayshould use a sample rate of at least 15 Hertz to ensure that it willcapture a 3 meter vehicle traveling at 100 mph. However, other samplerates may be used for different situations. At high speeds detector 105may increase the length of the trap zone and reduce the sample rate.

In one embodiment, device 165 will buffer several samples of thereceived radiated energy and process a group of them at a time. This mayallow a reduction power and/or an increase in sample rate if there arealgorithmic advantages to using several samples, rather than just thecurrent sample, to determine count and speed. In one embodiment, device165 will over-sample radiated energy of a traffic object several timesto generate data regarding the traffic object. The over-sampled datawill then be processed using algorithms and filters to reduce noise,increase contrast, and eliminate static objects. By using thisover-sampling technique, a lower quality and more inexpensive sensor maybe used for detector 105.

In one embodiment, the data regarding vehicle 135 is related to a laneoccupancy of the lane that vehicle 135 is traveling in on surface 145.Lane occupancy may be calculated as a percentage of time in whichvehicles are occupying a lane on a roadway in the field of view ofdetector 105 for a given time period. In one embodiment, the dataregarding vehicle 135 is related to a count of a number of vehiclestraveling through the field of view of detector 105 during a given timeperiod.

In one embodiment, the data regarding vehicle 135 is related to a heightof vehicle 135. In one embodiment, the data regarding vehicle 135 isrelated to a length of vehicle 135. Data related to the height and/orlength of vehicle 135 may be used to classify which to of vehicle thatvehicle 135 is. For example, if vehicle 135 is below a certain length,such as 10 feet, then vehicle 135 would be classified as a motorcycle.In one embodiment, vehicle classifications are as follows: 10 feet longis classified as a motorcycle, 20 feet long is classified as a passengercar or automobile, 30 feet long is classified as a small truck, 40 feetlong or longer is classified as a large truck or semi-truck. In oneembodiment, measurements regarding length and height of vehicle 135 aremade by counting the number of passive infrared pixels that areilluminated at a given time by vehicle 135. Thus the present technologycan not only count the number of vehicles on a roadway, but can alsoclassify which types of vehicles are traveling on the roadway.

In one embodiment, detector 105 captures radiation energy 155 that isradiated from surface 145. Radiation energy 155 may be capturedsimultaneous to or in a time period consecutive to the time period inwhich radiation energy 150 is captured. In this example, radiationenergy 155 is considered background radiation. This background radiationmay be analyzed to determine the temperature of surface 145. Toaccomplish this, detector 105 will calibrate the background image toambient temperature and estimate the temperature of the backgroundimage. In so doing, it will be able to determine road surfacetemperatures within one degree. Temperature information may be useful inmaking decisions as to when to clear snow and ice from roads. Forexample, the information can allow an inference to be made as to whichroads are melting snow and ice and which roads need to be plowed andsalted.

In one embodiment, detector 105 captures radiation energy 160 that isradiated from person 140 where person 140 is a human being. Thisinformation may be useful to detect the number and frequency of peoplein a crosswalk in a roadway. The present technology may also bepracticed in other situations where counting and detecting people aredesirable such as at border between states or nations. In oneembodiment, device 165 is configured to only detect people or vehicles,but not both. In one embodiment, device 165 is configured to detect bothpeople and vehicles.

In one embodiment, power source 115 comprises a battery and utilizessolar power to charge the battery. In one embodiment, a solar panel maybe employed by device 165. In one embodiment, device 165 employsadaptive power management that automatically changes system operationbased on battery charge and solar panel performance.

Power source 115 is selected to allow device 165 to transmit data atregular intervals. During peak traffic hours device 165 may betransmitting at intervals faster than during off peak traffic hours. Forexample, device 165 may transmit at 60 second intervals during peakhours and five minute intervals during off peak hours. The different inpower consumption for different intervals may be averaged to estimatepower requirements for device 165. Using this information, appropriatebatteries and solar devices may be selected. In one embodiment, thebattery may be a standard battery purchased off the shelf or a batterymay be modified for the present technology. It should be appreciatedthat power source 115 may utilize other conventional power sources suchas being hard wired to a power grid.

The present technology may require that a solar panel is mounted onexisting structures such as a pole. Mounting a solar panel on a pole maycause an increase of force to be applied to the existing structure aswind impacts the solar panel. Therefore the size of the solar panel maybe selected with consideration to the extra force will be applied to theexisting structure when wind impacts the solar panel. In one embodiment,the size of a solar panel is selected such that if it is mounted to anexisting structure it will limit the force applied to the existingstructure when wind impacts the solar panel.

In one embodiment, device 165 may employ standard computer hardware andsoftware to process data from detector 105, image receiving device 120and to control the components of device 165. Such hardware and softwareis capable of receiving commands from an external device or computersystem. For example, device 165 may receive a command from an externaldevice to shutdown or restart. Such commands may also includeadjustments to the sampling rate of detector 105 or a command for imagereceiving device 120 to capture an image.

In one embodiment, communicator 110 is employed to transmit and receiveelectronic data. In one embodiment, communicator 110 is a modemconnected to a network. In one embodiment, communicator 110 is acellular modem wireless connected to a cellular network. In oneembodiment, communicator 110 establishes and maintains a continuousconnection on a network. In one embodiment, communicator 110 is capableof being regularly powered on and off, or placed in a sleep state, toreduce power consumption. Communicator 110 may be powered on and off bycontrol circuits associated with device 165 or by remote control from anexternal device or computer system. In one embodiment, communicator 110also comprises a remote wireless data link such as a Bluetooth, wifi orzigbee communicator. Such a remote wireless data link may allow device165 to communicate with other similar devices nearby or with a nearbydiagnostics tool. Therefore device 165 may be capable of receiving datafrom a nearby device and forwarding that data over its modem. This maybe useful for a nearby device that lacks a modem connection to anetwork.

In one embodiment, mounting bracket is employed to mount device 165 toexisting structure 130. It should be appreciated that mounting apparatus125 may use standard hardware for fastening and mounting such as screws,nuts and bolts, clamps, etc. It should also be appreciated that existingstructure 130 may be a pole, a light pole, a sign, sign pole, anoverpass, a bridge or other existing structures on or new a roadway.Installing device 165 on an existing structure reduces the expense andthe time required to installing device 165. In one embodiment, anoriginal structure or a new structure may be installed for device 165.

In one embodiment, device 165 also comprises a global positioningdevice. This enables device 165 to also transmit data regarding itslocation with precision and will allow a database to keep more preciserecords as to where a plurality of devices are located. In oneembodiment, device 165 also comprises an on-board temperature sensor sothat data regarding the temperature of device 165 may be transmitted.

In one embodiment, image receiving device 120 is capable of capturingimages of traffic objects in the form of electronic data. It should beappreciated that image receiving device 120 may be, but is not limitedto, a digital camera, a CMOS imaging array, or other similar device. Inone embodiment, image receiving device 120 does not continuouslyoperated, but instead captures images only on demand. Such a demand maycome as a command from device 165, an external device or computersystem. Such a command may be automatically generated based on a changein traffic patterns deduced by the data captured by device 165. Examplesof changes in traffic patterns include a sudden drop in traffic speedsor a blockage in one lane. Such a command may also be received from aremote user. Communicator 110 may be used to receive such commands andtransmit data related to the images captured by image receiving device120.

In one embodiment, image receiving device 120 is capable of capturingvideo. In one embodiment, real-time video captured by image receivingdevice 120 may be transmitted for limited amount of time.

In one embodiment, image receiving device 120 is capable of adjusting aviewing range or area for image receiving device 120 adjusting the zoomof a lens associated with image receiving device 120. In one embodiment,image receiving device 120 is capable of panning or tilting the lens toadjust a viewing range or area for image receiving device 120. Commandsto pan, tilt or zoom may be received automatically based on trafficconditions or may be received at the request of a user. Thus imagesencompassing more than one area of a roadway may be captured andtransmitted upon demand. This may be useful if an operator or usernotices a change in traffic behavior and would like to have a visualimage of what is occurring. For example, traffic patterns may change andan operator request an image, the image displays a fallen tree across aroadway. Personnel may then be dispatched to remove the tree.

In one embodiment, detector 105 uses hardware and techniques associatedwith Doppler radar to detect traffic objects. For example, detector 105may transmit energy towards the traffic objects and receive the energyreflect back off of the traffic objects. A shift in energy detectedbetween the transmitted energy and the reflected energy can be used todetect the traffic objects. The use of Doppler radar is well known inthe art, for a discussion of using Doppler radar to detect trafficobjects please see U.S. Pat. No. 7,558,695.

In one embodiment, data transmitted by communicator 110 is received byat least one server computer system. The server computer system iscapable of maintaining a database of a plurality of devices similar todevice 165 and the devices' sensor status and metrics. The servercomputer system can also provide alerts for devices that need attention.The server computer system can also maintain and manage communicationsand upload new versions of software to the devices. Additionally, theserver computer system can maintain a customer rules engine on when tosend alerts to a customer, when to send an image based on currenttraffic conditions and correct reported data to fix mistakes in thedevice data based on current conditions to improve accuracy.

In one embodiment, the data transmitted by communicator 110 is receivedby at least one server computer system that has at least one ExtensibleMarkup Language (XML) client. The server computer system can establishand maintain a secure communications channel with the XML client, filterdata to restrict the XML client to only access authorized data, andpopulate a customer database for use in other applications.

In one embodiment, the data transmitted by communicator 110 is receivedby at least one map server. The map server is configured to associatetraffic data with a section of road, color-code the section of roadbased on conditions, alert a customer to rapidly changing conditions,enable user to click on a device displayed in a graphical user interfaceand retrieve an image of current conditions on demand.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of an example environmentcomprising a traffic detecting device shown in accordance withembodiments of the present technology. Environment 200 includes vehicles205, 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, 235 and 240, lanes 245, 250, 255 and 260and device 165. Environment 200 comprises components that may or may notbe used with different embodiments of the present technology and shouldnot be construed to limit the present technology.

FIG. 2 depicts device 165, it should be appreciated that device 165 ofFIG. 2 has all the features and capabilities of device 165 of FIG. 1. Inone embodiment, device 165 is capable of detecting or capturing energyradiated from vehicles 205, 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, 235 and 240 as thepass the field of view of device 165. Using the captured data,information relating to speed, lane occupancy, height and length ofvehicles, number of vehicles, and other information can be determined.Based on the information regarding height, vehicles 205, 210, 220, and235 may be classified as passenger cars while vehicle 215 may beclassified as a large truck and vehicle 225 may be classified as amotorcycle.

In one embodiment, device 165 is not completely accurate. For example,vehicles 230 and 240 may be driving side by side at the same rate ofspeed as they pass through the field of view of device 165. This maycause device 165 to collect data that may appear as though vehicles 230and 240 are one vehicle that has an abnormal height. By using algorithmsand other techniques, vehicles that appear to be too tall or have anabnormal height may be classified as two vehicles instead of one. Thistechnique provides error correction for data captured by device 165 whentwo vehicles are driving side by side at the same rate of speed.

FIG. 2 depicts lanes 245, 250, 255 and 260. Each of these lanesrepresents a lane of travel on a roadway. FIG. 2 depicts vehicles inlanes 245 and 250 traveling in the opposite direction of vehicles inlane 255 and 260. In one embodiment, device 165 is capable of capturingenergy radiated by vehicles traveling in more than one direction on aroadway. In one embodiment, device 165 may be limited to detect vehiclestraveling in only one direction of travel.

Operation

More generally, in embodiments in accordance with the present invention,detecting traffic is utilized to detect traffic object and theircharacteristics on a surface. Such methods can be implemented at devicesas described above that are configured to detect traffic objects.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating process 300 for detecting traffic, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, process 300 is carried out, at least in part, by processorsand electrical components under the control of computer readable andcomputer executable instructions stored on a computer-usable storagemedium. The computer readable and computer executable instructionsreside, for example, in data storage features such as computer usablevolatile and non-volatile memory. However, the computer readable andcomputer executable instructions may reside in any type ofcomputer-usable storage medium. In one embodiment, process 300 isperformed by devices and objects in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In one embodiment, process 300 is used to detect traffic. It should beappreciated that the steps of process 300 may not need to be executed inthe order they are listed in. Additionally, embodiments of the presenttechnology do not require that all of the steps of process 300 beexecuted to detect traffic. At 302, in one embodiment, radiated energyis captured at a detection device, wherein the radiated energy isradiated from traffic objects. For example, the detection device may bedevice 165 of FIG. 1 with all of the abilities and features describedabove. The traffic object may be a vehicle, a person, a surface, aroadway, etc.

At 304, data associated with the radiated energy is generated. The datamay contain information related to, the speed of a traffic object, theheight or length of a traffic object, the temperature of a trafficobject, the lane occupancy of a surface, a classification of a trafficobject, a count of traffic object, as well as other information.

At 306, the data associated with the radiated energy is transmittedusing a communication device. In one embodiment, the communicationdevice is communicator 110 of FIG. 1.

At 308, electricity is generated using a solar source for powering atleast one of the detection device and the communication device.

At 310, an image is captured at an image receiving device of the trafficobjects. In one embodiment, the image receiving device is imagereceiving device 120 of FIG. 1.

At 312, the image is transmitted using the communication device. In oneembodiment, the communication device is communicator 110 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating process 400 for detecting traffic, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, process 400 is carried out, at least in part, by processorsand electrical components under the control of computer readable andcomputer executable instructions stored on a computer-usable storagemedium. The computer readable and computer executable instructionsreside, for example, in data storage features such as computer usablevolatile and non-volatile memory. However, the computer readable andcomputer executable instructions may reside in any type ofcomputer-usable storage medium. In one embodiment, process 400 isperformed by devices and objects in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In one embodiment, process 400 is used to detect traffic. It should beappreciated that the steps of process 400 may not need to be executed inthe order they are listed in. Additionally, embodiments of the presenttechnology do not require that all of the steps of process 400 beexecuted to detect traffic. At 402, traffic objects are detected at adetection device. In one embodiment, the traffic objects are thevehicles of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the detection device is device 165 ofFIG. 1. In one embodiment, the detection device is a passive infraredarray. In one embodiment, the detection device employs Doppler radar todetect the traffic objects.

At 404, traffic data associated with the detected traffic objects isgenerated. This may be performed using the components of device 165 ofFIG. 1 including computer hardware as described above.

At 406, an image of the traffic objects is captured at an imagereceiving device. In one embodiment, the image receiving device is imagereceiving device 120 of FIG. 1. In one embodiment, a user may requestthe image to be captured. In another embodiment, the image isautomatically captured based on a change in traffic data.

At 408, the traffic data and the image are transmitted using acommunication device. In one embodiment, the communication device iscommunicator 110 of FIG. 1.

Although the subject matter is described in a language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for detecting traffic, said method comprising: capturing radiated energy at a detection device within a trap zone defined within a field of view of said at least three infrared sensors associated with said detection device, wherein said radiated energy is radiated from traffic objects; generating data associated with said radiated energy by buffering several samples of said radiated energy within said trap zone; and transmitting said data associated with said radiated energy using a communication device.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating electricity using a solar source for powering at least one of said detection device and said communication device.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: capturing an image at an image receiving device of said traffic objects; and transmitting said image using said communication device.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing infrared radiation.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing infrared radiation at a two dimensional passive array associated with detection device.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing radiation generated from a vehicle traveling on a surface.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing radiation generated from a person.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing radiation generated from a surface.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating data related to a number of said traffic objects traveling on a surface during a time period.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating data related to a speed of at least one of said traffic objects.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating a first type of data related a traffic object of a first size and a second type of data related a traffic object of a second size.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating data related to a temperature of a surface.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating data related to lane occupancy of said traffic objects on a roadway.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication device is a modem and said transmitting said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises transmitting said data using said modem over a network.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein said radiated energy is generated by said traffic objects traveling in more than one direction.
 16. A method for detecting traffic, said method comprising: detecting traffic objects at a detection device by capturing radiated energy within a trap zone defined within a field of view of infrared sensors associated with said detection device; generating traffic data associated with said detecting said traffic objects by buffering several samples of said radiated energy within said trap zone; capturing an image of said traffic objects at an image receiving device; and transmitting said traffic data and said image using a communication device.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said radiated energy is radiated from said traffic objects.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein said detecting said traffic objects further comprises employing Doppler radar.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein said capturing said image takes place upon a request from a user.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein said capturing said image takes automatically based on said traffic data. 